Naturalization Eligibility Requirements, One by One

Updated: October 30, 2026

To naturalize under the general rule, you must be at least 18, have been a green card holder for 5 years, and have lived in the United States continuously for those 5 years. You must also have spent at least 30 months physically in the country, have lived for 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you file, and show good moral character, basic English, civics knowledge and attachment to the Constitution. Each requirement has its own rules, and most denials come from misunderstanding one of them.

The nine general requirements

The Form N-400 instructions list these general requirements for most applicants:

You are at least 18 years old when you file.
You have been a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years.
You have had continuous residence in the United States for at least 5 years.
You have lived in your state or USCIS district for at least 3 months before filing.
You have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months (913 days).
You show good moral character.
You show attachment to the principles of the U.S. Constitution.
You can read, write, speak and understand basic English, and you have basic knowledge of U.S. history and government.
You are willing to take the Oath of Allegiance.

If you are married to a U.S. citizen, several of these numbers drop. See the section on the 3-year rule below.

Age and green card status

You must be 18 on the day you file. Children under 18 cannot file an N-400. They may instead have derived citizenship through a parent (see citizenship for children and Form N-600).

Your green card time starts on the "Resident Since" date printed on the card. Conditional residence on a 2-year card counts toward the 5 years, as long as the conditions are later removed.

Continuous residence

Continuous residence means you have not lived outside the United States for long stretches. The rules work like this:

Trips under 6 months generally do not break continuous residence.
Trips longer than 6 months but less than 1 year are presumed to break it. You can overcome that presumption with evidence, for example that you kept your U.S. job, your immediate family stayed in the United States, or you kept full access to your home.
Trips of 1 year or more break continuous residence automatically, unless you have an approved Form N-470 for certain qualifying work abroad.

A reentry permit protects your green card but does not preserve continuous residence for naturalization. Our guide to continuous residence and physical presence explains how to count trips and what to do after a long absence.

Physical presence

Physical presence is a separate test. It counts the days you were actually inside the United States. Under the 5-year rule you need 913 days within the 5 years before filing. Under the spouse rule you need 548 days within 3 years. USCIS counts the day you leave and the day you return as days in the United States.

You can fail physical presence without ever breaking continuous residence. A frequent traveler with many 3-month trips is one example.

Three months in your state or district

You must have lived in the state or USCIS district with jurisdiction over your residence for at least 3 months before you file. If you just moved, wait until you have 3 months at the new location. Students may file where they go to school or, if financially dependent on their parents, where their parents live.

Good moral character

You must show good moral character during the 5 years before filing (3 years under the spouse rule) and up until the oath. Some offenses permanently bar naturalization. Others only bar it if they happened within the statutory period. Officers can also look at conduct from before that period.

Since August 2025, USCIS guidance tells officers to weigh the whole picture. Negative factors count, but so do positive ones such as community involvement, family responsibilities, education, stable work and paying taxes. Unlawful voting or registering to vote as a non-citizen, and false claims to U.S. citizenship, are treated as serious problems. Read more in good moral character for naturalization.

English and civics

At your interview you must show basic English and pass a civics test. If you file on or after October 20, 2025, the civics test is the 2025 version: up to 20 questions from a list of 128, with 12 correct needed to pass. See the 2025 civics test and the English test guides.

Exemptions exist based on age and years as a green card holder (50/20 and 55/15), and a simplified civics test is available at 65/20. You must meet the age and residence numbers on the day you file, not on the day of your interview. See the 65/20 exemption guide.

Attachment to the Constitution and the oath

You must support the principles of the Constitution and be willing to take the Oath of Allegiance. Applicants with religious or conscientious objections can request a modified oath for the parts about bearing arms.

Men who lived in the United States between ages 18 and 25 generally had to register with the Selective Service. If you didn't register and are now between 26 and 31 (26 and 29 under the spouse rule), you must explain why and include a status information letter. Above those ages, the N-400 instructions say you don't need either.

The 3-year rule for spouses of U.S. citizens

If you file based on marriage, at the time of filing you must:

Be married to a U.S. citizen and stay married until the oath
Have lived in marital union with that spouse for at least 3 years
Have a spouse who has been a citizen for at least 3 years
Have been a green card holder for at least 3 years
Have at least 18 months of physical presence within those 3 years

Details are in the three-year rule.

Early filing: the 90-day window

You can file up to 90 days before you complete the 5-year or 3-year continuous residence period. All other requirements must already be met on the filing date, including the 3 months in your state and, for the spouse route, 3 years of marriage. Use the USCIS Early Filing Calculator. Applications filed too early are rejected.

A quick self-check before you file

Your green card date plus 5 years (or 3), minus 90 days, is on or before today
You have counted every trip abroad, with exact dates
You have 913 days (or 548) of physical presence
You have lived at your current address, or in your state, for at least 3 months
You owe no overdue taxes, or you have a payment plan you can document
You have certified court records for any arrest, citation or charge, even if it was dismissed
You have started studying the civics questions

Frequently asked questions

Does time on a conditional green card count toward the 5 years?

Yes. Time as a conditional permanent resident counts toward the residence period, as long as the conditions were removed or a removal petition is properly pending as USCIS requires.

Can a single trip of 7 months make me ineligible?

Not automatically. A trip of more than 6 months but less than 1 year creates a presumption that you broke continuous residence, which you can rebut with evidence of your ties to the United States. A trip of a year or more breaks it unless you have an approved N-470.

Do traffic tickets affect good moral character?

Minor traffic tickets usually don't bar naturalization on their own, but you should still disclose them if the form asks. Offenses involving alcohol or drugs, or a pattern of violations, get closer review.

Do I need a lawyer to check my eligibility?

Many people with simple histories file on their own. If you have any arrests, long trips abroad, immigration violations or tax problems, talk to an immigration attorney or an accredited representative before you file.

Prepare for the civics test with Civio: every official question from the 2025 USCIS civics test, Exam Mode with your state's questions, and spaced repetition.

Informational article, not legal advice. Civio is not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency; always check current requirements at uscis.gov.